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Review
. 2025 Aug 1;14(15):2710.
doi: 10.3390/foods14152710.

Advanced Modification Strategies of Plant-Sourced Dietary Fibers and Their Applications in Functional Foods

Yansheng Zhao  1 , Ying Shao  1 , Songtao Fan  1 , Juan Bai  1 , Lin Zhu  1 , Ying Zhu  1 , Xiang Xiao  1
Affiliations
Review

Advanced Modification Strategies of Plant-Sourced Dietary Fibers and Their Applications in Functional Foods

Yansheng Zhao et al. Foods. .

Abstract

Plant-sourced Dietary Fibers (PDFs) have garnered significant attention due to their multifaceted health benefits, particularly in glycemic control, lipid metabolism regulation, and gut microbiota modulation. This review systematically investigates advanced modification strategies, including physical, chemical, bioengineering, and hybrid approaches, to improve the physicochemical properties and bioactivity of PDFs from legumes, cereals, and other sources. Key modifications such as steam explosion, enzymatic hydrolysis, and carboxymethylation significantly improve solubility, porosity, and functional group exposure, thereby optimizing the health-promoting effects of legume-sourced dietary fiber. The review further elucidates critical structure-function relationships, highlighting PDF's prebiotic potential, synergistic interactions with polyphenols and proteins, and responsive designs for targeted nutrient delivery. In functional food applications, cereal-sourced dietary fibers serve as a versatile functional ingredient in engineered foods including 3D-printed gels and low-glycemic energy bars, addressing specific metabolic disorders and personalized dietary requirements. By integrating state-of-the-art modification techniques with innovative applications, this review provides comprehensive insights into PDF's transformative role in advancing functional foods and personalized nutrition solutions.

Keywords: functional foods; gut microbiota; modification; plant-sourced dietary fibers.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Plant structural origins of Plant-sourced Dietary Fibers.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mechanisms of functional enhancement in Plant-sourced Dietary Fibers for functional food applications.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Applications of Plant-sourced Dietary Fibers in functional foods.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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